The Ondo State Agribusiness Empowerment Centre (OSAEC) has empowered 100 youths with N16.5 million under its Adiye Irorun (Chicken-at-Ease) programme, designed to promote youth participation in poultry farming and boost protein production in the state.
The beneficiaries received the empowerment funds on Thursday at the completion and beneficiaries’ payment ceremony for the third cycle of the Isuada ABC programme, held at the OSAEC Conference Room.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of OSAEC, Hon. Rotimi Wemimo Akinsola, said the programme was designed to encourage youths to participate in agriculture, become self-reliant and contribute to the economic development of the state.
Akinsola explained that the Adiye Irorun programme was also introduced to address the shortage of locally produced poultry products, noting that many fast-food operators and other consumers previously sourced chicken from outside the state.
He said the initiative provides participants with practical training and an opportunity to learn the processes involved in raising chickens from the chick stage to table size.
According to him, participants undergo a six-week practical programme during which they are involved in caring for the birds, while the state government serves as the primary off-taker of the chickens under a profit-sharing arrangement.
He said the ultimate objective was to equip beneficiaries with the knowledge and experience required to establish their own poultry farms and become independent producers.
“This is basically what they’ve been doing for six weeks and this is the reward. It’s to get paid and to encourage them to continue to participate in the programme, to get to a level where they will, in turn, be able to set up their own pen and be able to actually produce from chick to chicken,” Akinsola said.
The OSAEC chairman disclosed that the programme currently operates in the three senatorial districts through centres in Owo, Ikare and Okitipupa.
He added that the agency was working towards expanding the distribution of its processed chickens to all 18 local government areas of the state.
Akinsola said the programme had reached a new stage, with OSAEC rearing, processing and selling its own chickens to consumers in Akure.
“This is the first time we’re actually rearing the chicken, processing the chicken ourselves, and selling to our people,” he said.
He further disclosed that the agency would soon commence the Eja Irorun (Fish-at-Ease) programme in Ikare, with about 90 participants expected to receive training in fish farming.
According to him, the fish programme would involve about 100 ponds stocked with tilapia and catfish, adding that it would complement the poultry initiative in providing more agribusiness opportunities for youths.
Also speaking, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, OSAEC, Mr Bamidele Ojo, said the beneficiaries underwent rigorous training for six weeks before receiving the empowerment funds as startup capital for their businesses.
Ojo said participants were expected to go through three cycles to fully acquire the required practical knowledge, noting that some of the beneficiaries had already completed two cycles.
He disclosed that 100 participants took part in the latest cycle, during which about 15,000 birds were raised over six weeks.
According to him, participants were grouped and assessed based on their performance, particularly their ability to manage the birds and minimise mortality.
Ojo said the beneficiaries performed well in the latest cycle, recording a mortality rate of less than five per cent.
He explained that the practical nature of the programme was intended to ensure that participants would be able to independently raise poultry when they establish their own farms.
One of the beneficiaries, Olubiyo Blessing, expressed appreciation to the state government and OSAEC for providing youths with the opportunity to acquire practical skills in poultry farming.
Blessing said the training exposed participants to the various stages of poultry production, from breeding to consumption, adding that she planned to invest her empowerment fund in poultry farming.
Another beneficiary, Elisha Agidi, also commended the initiative, describing it as an opportunity that could help youths become economically independent.
He said the financial support would also be useful to him as he prepares for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The State Chairman of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, Ondo State Chapter, Fadipe Olawande, described the initiative as a laudable project capable of reducing unemployment and improving the economic fortunes of the state.
Olawande said the beneficiaries were selected from the three senatorial districts, stressing that the programme was designed to ensure that no part of the state was left behind.
He described the initiative as a “train-to-empower” scheme, where youths are first equipped with practical knowledge before being supported to establish themselves.
According to him, the programme could eventually produce employers of labour as beneficiaries who establish their own poultry farms would need to employ workers.
Olawande urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the knowledge and funds received, advising them to remain focused on building sustainable businesses.
He also cautioned the youths against allowing themselves to be used as political thugs as the 2027 elections approach.
He congratulated the beneficiaries and commended OSAEC for sustaining the empowerment initiative.
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